Spring applying tool



Inventor Donald 0. Verr/n y M a Attorneys D. D. VERTIN SPRING APPLYING TOOL Filed Oct. 21, 1947 Aug. 10, 1954 Patenteci Aug. 10, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in spring applying tools and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a tool for holding a coil spring in an expanded position, so that the same may be engaged with apertures or supporting studs.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a spring applying tool including a shank and novel and improved means for holding a spring in an expanded position either embracing the shank or hearing against one side of the shank.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a spring applying tool that includes novel and improved means for engaging and retaining both ends of a spring in a selected extended position.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a spring applying tool that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present tool in use;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the present tool, and with parts thereof broken away and shown in section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view of one end of the tool shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view with the present spring applying tool in slightly modified form;

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one end of the tool shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is an end view of that end of the tool shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the spring applying tool in further modified form, and with parts thereof broken away and shown in section;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the spring applying tool in still further modified form;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one end of the spring applying tool in a still further modified form; and,

Figure 12 is a plan view of Figure 11.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to Figures 1-4 inclusive, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral it represents an elongated shank of suitable metal preferably circular in cross section at one end i2, and square in cross section at its opposite end M. The rounded end l2 of the shank tapers to a substantially cylindrical extension i6 which is arcuated to provide a hook 18. The opposite square end M of the shank is also tapered to an arcuate reduced extension 20 which is integrally formed with a channel 22 having a notch 24 provided in its outer free end which aligns the upper face 26 of the shank. This channel 22 and notch 24 are adapted to frictionally engage one end 28 of a coil spring 36. A plurality of longitudinally spaced notches 52 are provided in the upper face 26 of the end I4, and engage the opposite end 34 of a coil spring 30, with retaining lips 36 engaging and retaining the end 34 of the spring within a selected notch 32. Obviously, the spring may bear against the upper face 26 of the shank as shown in Figure l, or may embrace the squared end M of the shank if desirable.

Reference is now directed to Figures 58 inclusive, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a modified form of the invention. In this embodiment, the numeral 38 represents an elongated shank having a rounded upper face 40 and a fiat lower face 42 at one end 44. This end 44 is arcuated downwardly at its extremity to provide a tapered hook 46 having a transverse groove 48 in its free end. A plurality of longitudinally spaced inclined arcuate slots 50 are provided in the lower face 42 of the shank end 44 and are adapted to engage one end of a spring having its opposite end engaged in the groove 48. The opposite end 52 of the shank 38 is preferably square in cross section to provide a pair of upwardly inclined side faces 54 and a pair of downwardly inclined side faces 56. A plurality of longitudinally spaced inclined notches 5B are provided in the faces 54 to engage one end of a coil spring. The outer extremity of the end 52 is arcuated upwardly to rovide a reduced extension 60 integrally formed with a channel 62 having transversely opposed notches 64 in its parallel sides and a vertical notch 66 in its outer end that aligns the notches 58 in the end 52.

Reference is now directed to Figure 10, wherein there is disclosed the present tool in another modified form. In this embodiment, the numeral 68 represents an elongated shank circular in cross section at one end 10 and preferably square or rectangular at its opposite end 12. The rounded end 10 of the shank B8 terminates in a tapered extension 14 which is arcuated downwardly at its extremity to provide a hook E6. The opposite end 12 of the shank B3 is provided with an upwardly arcuated, reduced extension 78 that is provided with a transverse groove or recess 3E3 adjacent its outer end.

A plurality of inclined, longitudinally spaced grooves or notches 82 are provided in the upper face 84 and side faces 36 of the end 12 for engaging one end of an expanded coil spring (not shown) that has one end engaged in the recess 88.

Reference is now directed to Figure 9, wherein there is disclosed the present tool in a further modified form. In this embodiment, the numeral 88 represents one end of the tool shank that is preferably circular in cross section. The end 88 of this shank is provided with an integral reduced arcuate extension 99 which is twisted at an inclined angle to the longitudinal axis or the shank. A notch or retaining shoulder 92 is provided in the end 88 adjacent the hook or arcuate extension 99.

Reference i now directed to Figures 11 and 12, wherein there is disclosed the present invention in a still further modified form. In this embodiment, the numeral 94 represents the tapered end of the tool shank 93 provided with an arcuate upwardly and outwardly inclined extension 98 having a channel E99 formed at its outer extremity. A transverse notch E92 is provided in the end of the channel E99 and a vertical notch IE4 is provided in one side 99 of the channel. Also, longitudinally spaced notches 198 are provided in the end 9d of the tool for selectively engaging one end of a coil spring that has its opposite end frictionaily engaged in either channel 199 and notch i9 3 or notch N2.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A spring applying tool for holding a helical coil spring by its opposite ends in a straight axially expanded position to facilitate its application under tension to spaced spring seats disposed in relatively confined and inaccessible locations, comprising an elongated straight shank of rectangular uniform cross-section and of a suflicient size to extend axially and entirely through a helical coil spring and beyond both ends of the latter, said shank having straight, fiat plane sides an arcuate lateral extension of tapering cross-section integral with one end of said shank, means on the extreme end of said extension for engaging and retaining one end of a helical coil spring when the latter is received upon and encircles said shank, said shank having longitudinally spaced recesses in one flat plane side adapted to selectively receive and retain the other end of a helical coil spring when the latter is in an axially distended position, said means comprising a notch that is inclined to the axis of the extension and to the axis of the shank and flat plane face extends entirely across the width of the extension, said notch having both of its ends disposed laterally beyond the fiat plane side of the shank having said recesses.

2. A tool for retaining a helical coil spring in axially distended position for applyin and removing a spring from spaced spring seats in relatively inaccessible confined locations comprising a straight relatively thin elongated shank of rectangular cross-section and having flat, plane sides, an angularly disposed integral extension at one end of said shank having at its extreme outer end a notch extending entirely transversely across the extension and inclined to the axis of the extension and to the axis of the shank for engaging and retaining one end of a helical coil spring, said shank having in one flat plane face a plurality of axially spaced recesses adapted to selectively receive and retain the other end of a. helical coil spring in an axially distended position of the latter, the width of the shank and the amount of lateral oifset of the end of the extension from the shank being sufficiently small to enable the shank and extension to be passed en- 'tirely through a helical coil spring and facilitate the passage of the tool and a helical spring held thereto through spaces just sufficiently wide to afford passage of the sprin therethrough, and with no portion of the shank or extension extending laterally beyond the sides of the helical spring when the latter is carried thereby.

3. A tool for use in applying helical coil springs which comprises a straight elongated shank of rectangular, uniform cross-section and having iiat plane sides, an integral arcuate lateral extension projecting from one end of said shank and from one of said flat sides, said extension decreasingly tapering in cross-section from its junction with said shank to its free extremity, said extension diverging from the longitudinal axis of said shank towards the outer end of the latter and at an acute angle, said shank having a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches in one of said fiat, plane sides and extending transversely thereof at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the shank, said extension having a notch upon its extreme outer end, said last mentioned notch having its medial plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the shank and perpendicular to the having said first mentioned notches, said notch on said extension having both of its ends disposed laterally beyond the flat plane side having said first mentioned notches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 23,022 Edwards Aug. 3, 1948 326,366 \Vi-lcox Sept. 15, 1835 1,538,717 Mead May 19, 1925 1,575,189 Charest Mar. 2, 1926 1,599,538 Mi-ksch June 29, 1926 1,889,167 Anderson Nov. 29, 1932 1,951,953 Tollonitsch Mar. 20, 1934 1,953,930 Dyal Apr. 19, 1934 2,042,287 Allievi May 26, 1936 2,087,610 Scott July 20, 193. 2,252,212 Silver Aug. 12, 1941 2,329,286 Meyer Sept, 14, 1943 2,465,030 Myers Mar. 22, 1949 

